P40L-P49Y Contest Summary Information

We decided early on to do a multi-op but debated whether it should be multi-single or multi-2, and whether low power or high power. A M2 would have been an opportunity to further learning with a hybrid remote operation, with one or two operators remoting in using the recently released excellent K4 remote feature, which we had previously done for the first time in 2024 ARRL SSB. OTOH, a multi-single would provide an opportunity to build on our 2023 CQ WW experience with an In-Band S&P station (which we felt was only partially successful last November).

Eventually we settled on the multi-single category. We set up so we could go either LP or HP with the decision to be largely dependent on a last minute assessment of conditions. If condx looked like they were going to be poor, HP was likely to be much more fun.

There were many significant solar events in the weeks before the contest weekend that made condx unstable and forecasting even more unreliable than usual. The day before the contest, though, we took the leap and committed to LP as condx looked pretty good. That turned out to be a good call.

In general, conditions during the contest from the southern Caribbean were very good. 40 and 20 were open pretty much all night to both EU and NA, and there were strong openings on 15 around 0100 local both nights (and even some on 10). However, as expected for the early summer months, the low bands were quite noisy. 80, especially LP, was not worth spending any time on.

A number of stations reported being plagued by OTH radar on 40. We did not experience any of that directly but suspect it may have depressed our numbers on 40 as it probably affected others’ ability to hear us, especially running low power.

This was our second experience with the station configured for in-band S&P using an EA4TX interlock and a 2x2 switch with the DXLog software interlock also engaged as back-up.

For RX only antennas, on 10, 15, and 20 we were using a simple Hygain 12AVQ vertical located about 700 feet from the transmit antennas with a remote Norton pre-amp powered over the feed line and on 40 our usual beverages.

We also had a third station set up to make QSOs on the non-run band subject to the 10x per clock hour band change rule and the interlock.

LP is a very different experience from HP. Arrival rates of callers are lower, you end up being forced off your run frequency or QRM’d more frequently and stations you call in S&P mode are a lot less likely to come back on the first call. Supplementing the rate with the In-Band S&P station and the non-run band S&P station becomes an important differentiating factor.

Of our approximately 4340 QSOs, 720 were made S&P. Of those S&P contacts, we estimate about 340 were by the In-Band S&P station, 160 by the non-run band S&P station and the balance by the run station when run rates got particularly slow. With the benefit of hindsight, we think we should have been more aggressive with the In-Band S&P station and that we got much better utilizing it by the end of the contest. However, In-Band S&P is made more challenging at this station as it continues to be plagued by sporadic bad broad interstation interference that seems to be due to spurious signals caused by interaction of our signals with nearby corroded metal roofs and which comes and goes with no clear discernible pattern.

We had a few minor glitches. We managed to burn out a pre-amp shortly before the contest when trying to configure the In-Band S&P station so it would be muted by the Run station PTT to make it easier to use in the “Partner” mode with the Run station while listening on the vertical (turns out that when we configured the Run PTT to also apply PTT to the In-Band S&P station it caused the 2x2 switch to trigger and the Run station to transmit into the RX antenna; obvious problem in retrospect). We also inadvertently configured the hardware interlock and software interlock back-up with slightly different priority levels causing occasional conflicts.

All in all, we feel like we accomplished all our objectives. We had a lot of fun, we incrementally increased our learning using an In-Band S&P station, we exceeded our pre-contest goal of 4000 Qs, and, coincidentally, we likely set a new world record in the LP category.

As always, thanks to everyone for all the Qs. Also, thanks for your patience when our transmission timing was delayed by the interlock (and our apologies); if any consolation, at those times, our op is also anxiously waiting the green light to access the TX function.

73, John, W6LD/P40L, for the P40L WPX CW team (N7MH, WD6T, W6LD)

Station (all towers on a 100x100’ lot):

Rohn 45 tower (66’): Single boom 2-element shortened 40m interlaced with 4-element 20m (68’) (JK2040, long-boom version); 80m Inverted-V (65’); 160m Double-L center-fed vertical dipole (65’)

North Rohn 25 tower (56’): Single boom 5-element 15 interlaced with 6-element 10 (58’) (JK1015 configured for dual feed)

South Rohn 25 tower (45.5’): Tri-bander (JK Mid-tri)

Receiving antennas:

4 Beverages controlled by K9AY 2x8 switchbox: JA/West-US (800’), East US (500’), EU (800’) and East-West (AF and OC) (350’)

12AVQ 700’ from transmit antennas with remote Norton pre-amp

Rigs: K4D, 2x K3/P3; EA4TX interlock box and 2X2 switch

Logging: 3 micro PCs running DXLog.net, with interlock feature engaged